SOCCER SHORTS

Agencies

Wed, Mar 05, 2014 - Page 18

ENGLAND

Pardew facing lengthy ban

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew was facing the prospect of a lengthy touchline ban after being charged with “improper conduct” by the Football Association (FA) on Monday following his headbutt on Hull City’s David Meyler. Significantly, the FA said that “due to the serious violent and/or aggressive nature of the reported behaviour this case has been designated as non-standard,” Pardew has until 6pm tomorrow to respond to the charge. The Magpies boss was involved in the nasty altercation when he clashed with Meyler during Newcastle’s 4-1 away Premier League win at the KC Stadium on Saturday. Shortly before the statement from the FA, Humberside Police said they would take no action against Pardew. “Having reviewed the circumstances of the incident, it has been agreed that the matter will be dealt with by the FA rather than considering any criminal proceedings,” the force said. Pardew was fined ￡100,000 (US$167,000) by Newcastle, who stopped short of sacking the fiery Englishman.

ENGLAND

Stoke’s Adam charged by FA

Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam was charged with violent conduct by the FA on Monday after being caught stamping on Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud. Adam, 28, appeared to stand on Giroud’s left shin as the France star sat on the ground after passing the ball in the second half of Stoke’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday. Giroud was left writhing in pain for several moments and he was seen to protest to referee Mike Jones. Jones and his fellow officials did not notice the incident at the time, but the FA have taken action against Scotland international Adam after TV replays captured the clash. Adam had until yesterday evening to respond to the charge.

ITALY

US Sassuolo fire Malesani

Table-propping US Sassuolo fired coach Alberto Malesani after only five matches on Monday and immediately brought back the man he replaced, Eusebio di Francesco. Malesani, who became the 12th coaching victim of the season, lost all of his games in charge, leaving the Serie A debutants two points adrift at the bottom of the 20-team table. They were 18th when he took over. “The club thanks Malesani for his professionalism and effort during this difficult stage of the championship,” Sassuolo said in a statement. The hapless Malesani’s previous two coaching stints also lasted about one month each. The 59-year-old was in charge of US Citta di Palermo in February last year, where he was dismissed after only three weeks and was also substituted by the man he had previously replaced, Gian Piero Gasperini. Before that, Malesani was in the hot seat at Genoa during the 2011-2012 season, but was fired after an extraordinary 4-1 home defeat by AC Siena.

ITALY

De Rossi, Berardi banned

AS Roma midfielder Daniel de Rossi was banned for three matches on Monday for punching Inter’s Mauro Icardi at the weekend. De Rossi punched Argentine striker Icardi in an off-the-ball incident during Saturday’s goalless draw at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, although match officials missed the incident. De Rossi has a checkered disciplinary history and has been dropped by Italy manager Cesare Prandelli twice before. He was also sent off for a wild two-footed challenge during Roma’s game against Juventus in January. US Sassuolo striker Domenico Berardi was also suspended for three games for elbowing a Parma player.